As long-time users of the Brita Water Filter, we were not really aware that other similar form-factor filtration systems offered much difference. Generally I am not a huge water drinker. There always seems to be something funny about the taste or my throat feels a bit dry after a glass. Normally I’d pour a small amount of tea or infuse the water with something to overcome this issue.

When our last Brita filter reached its final days, I decided to investigate some of the alternatives. After reading a lot of review, I decided to try out the ZeroWater ZP-010 10-Cup Pitcher. This system received mostly high ratings and the negative ratings seemed to focus more on the longevity of the filters and not the quality.

The ZeroWater Pitcher can be poured just like our Brita Pitcher, but also has a spout so that you can get water without lifting it out of the fridge. This feature is especially nice if you just filled the pitcher. It’s true that the ZeroWater filter system does take longer due to it’s 5-stage filter process. So adding the clever spout on the bottom means that you don’t have to wait for the whole set of water to drain before use. Good thinking here.

How does it taste?

First and foremost, the filtered water taste great and is noticeably different from that of the Brita water. I find myself drinking straight water from this system and loving it. Our ZeroWater ZP-010 10-Cup Pitcher also came with a TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) meter to measure the water before and after.

Our tap water generally registers at around 022 on the TDS meter before filtration. We also tested Arrowhead Mountain Spring Water which registered at around 215. After running through the ZeroWater, both registered at 000. Phenomenal.

For comparison, we tested water through a friend’s Brita filter and it registered 008 after filtration. So there is something different going on here.

How long did the filter last?

The main complaint about these filters seems to be the longevity of the filter – that is, they tend to not last very long. Ours lasted a solid 3-months before registering above 000. Technically they say replace the filter once your water registers 006, but we ended up replacing it as soon as it registered 001. The main reason for this is that we noticed a slight difference in taste. 3 Solid months was plenty fine for us. With similar usage, this is what our Brita filters tended to last. And in reality, we probably drank a lot more water from the ZeroWater.